alleryStart learning →What happens to the epiglottis during swallowing?
AIt rises to open the entrance to the trachea
BIt stiffens to hold the vocal cords apart
CIt seals the opening between nose and throat
DIt swings downward to close off the trachea
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. It swings downward to close off the trachea
1. Swallowing lifts the pharynx and larynx upward.
2. That movement lets the pharynx expand and makes the epiglottis swing downward.
3. The downward swing closes the opening to the trachea and keeps food and drink out of the airway.
4. Sealing the nose from the throat is done by the uvula and soft palate instead, so the third option is wrong.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Respiratory System", section 22.1 Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System_
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